Thread regarding Altice USA (Cablevision) layoffs

Last time I checked the techs at Verizon say differently. They didn't lose their pay and sick time. In fact they got an increase. I was consulting a relative of mine who works for Fios. I was telling him about the situation at Altice and he was surprised. He wondered why we didn't get a union and that he was happy that he was with a union at Verizon because they were going to do cutbacks and knowing full well they are not losing any money they went on strike. Also as someone said that we can't do what corporate can well guess what, they can't do it either. My neighbor's wife works for Verizon upper management and they had her checking wires outside and doing pole work. She was ready to quit but thankfully they can came to an agreement and the strike ended. So don't sell yourself short thinking that you don't have a special set of skills.

You cannot compare salaries of a tech and upper management. I'm sorry but it's unrealistic. I wish we lived in a fair and equal society, but our unrestrained capitalist system has created what we have today. Unfortunately unions aren't the answer. For every one example of a job being saved there are countless more examples of pensions getting eliminated or jobs disappearing due to automation. The skill sets that we techs have do not compare with corporate. Any argument to this point is wishful thinking. The fact that we had so many technicians, most with barely a high school education making $30 + an hour is amazing. Today's corporate society, not just Altice, will not let that continue.

As for moving quickly, take a look at any contract. Unions require extended notifications for any and every change. For Brooklyn to get a training class they need at least 30 days notification before. The company runs on a faster timeline where new products need to go out tomorrow. Look at the unions effect on Fios. That was the argument that management was making during their last strike. Their techs do 2 jobs a day, if that. Honestly, without killing myself I know I can do double that easily. I don't need the union to protect my work ethic. I'm not here for an easy ride. I earn what I get. Some want a guarantee for their job. I'm okay weighing the risk vs reward. Even if the reward is unknown. That's very job. That's life.

Very true about CEO salaries. When the big guy T.R. left the company ~5 years ago~for the other telecom company I did some quick math and realized it would take me nearly 1000 (not a typo one thousand) years at my current salary to earn what he was given to leave.

That's fine. Who's better than him! I'm sure he earned it. But please don't tell me you can't afford Cash Balance Pension because of ObamaCare. What happens when Obamacare is repealed? Do we get our Cash Balance Pensions back?

Why dont you ask the leaders of Altice if the have a contract.. you better believe they do have a contract. now why don't you ask yourself why don't you have a contract to protect your job to protect your salary to protect your family, ask YOUR self how much does it cost to protect your family is $15 a week or $15 every two weeks is too much to protect your family? Do you really believe altice have your best interest? if they do why did they cut your sick days? if they do why are you paying a $250 copay if you have to take one of your loved ones to the emergency room? I know you guys are much smarter than this. If a union is so bad like what I Altice have been saying if a union is not in your best interest then why do Altice care so much ? I tell you all please do not join ATS. ATS does not have a backbone ATS is a scam.. ATS will be at Contracting Company and we all know what happens to contractors at any given time ATS can simply say there is no work and fire as many people as they wish. When all of you work for ATS who will work for altice USA keep in mind Altice USA is a company and according to the information that we have received ATS is not part of Altice USA. Who will work for Altice USA?

At a certain competing telecom over the past decade, probably 80% of the lower management had their pensions ended and then were let go. The upper management never feels an ounce of pain and as a matter of fact CEO's of large corporations now seem to be making 250x what their average worker makes! The union employees at this telecom company still enjoy pensions and no layoff clauses. CEO's have representation, corporations have representation, in my opinion it's a no brainer for the worker to get some himself some representation.

While I appreciate your respectful and well-articulated response I'm left with some questions regarding your comments.

1. You stated, "Our industry cannot succeed with a union environment. The union does not afford us the agility necessary in our rapidly evolving technological environment."

-What "agility" do mean exactly? Are you talking about the "agility" to reduce compensation or benefits whenever upper management decides it's warranted? Because it's seems lately we are getting emails almost on a weekly basis informing us of what we will no longer be getting i.e. Holidays, sick/personal, Employee Product Benefit, Negative changes to healthcare plans, Holiday Bonus (I realize holiday bonus was gift and not required whatsoever but it is still a disappointment nonetheless because it equates to almost a 2% pay cut the same 2% that many in management have criticized when it comes to union dues). All of this during a time period in which we were told numerous times "THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES TO EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR". I can only imagine the negative changes that will come when the one year period has expired.

-How will a union prohibit us from evolving along with the changing technology? Perhaps if there is, as of right now, no foreseeable way to be agile enough with a union present, then we/you/us need to take a FRESH, NEW LOOK at possible ways to they can work together. You know......."Fearless Reinvention"

1. "They aren't soldiers for the side of the down trodden. They run a business, the same as Altice."

-Agreed they are a business. If they did it for free I would question their credentials. Kind of like going to court with a free Public Defender vs. a hired, paid attorney. I'm reminded of the the technicians years ago that were encouraged by their managers to upsell video customers over the phone in exchange for bonuses and Vegas trips only to be walked out the door months later by those same managers for doing what they were told to do. (And some of those very same managers are still employed by this company and have been promoted handsomely). I'm sure they would have appreciated some representation, even it were from a "business". This, by the way, is why I will never sign a single customer up for "Premier Technical Support" in exchange for a small commission. All it takes is ONE customer to say they didn't agree to the additional charges on their monthly bill for a technician to be terminated.

It also should be said that your last paragraph is one that is absolutely true. No fault in believing your own skills will bring you success. We all do indeed have the freedom to move on to a job/career of our choosing and apply our talents there. I am quickly beginning to realize that may be the wisest choice for my family and I.

Most of the unions you mentioned were for government agencies who's salaries and pensions are paid for by our taxes. There are some public unions that are successful. The ones that come to mind have been around for decades and usually have the exclusive involvement of all member of a particular trade, thus having leverage. Even these unions are having difficulties in today's economy. For example, the CWA union representing BK has a pension that is financially problematic. Recently there was an article about retired steel workers getting their pensions cut because of pensions become insolvent.

Our industry cannot succeed with a union environment. The union does not afford us the agility necessary in our rapidly evolving technological environment. In addition, the workers in this industry were provided the skills to perform their jobs from the company. They aren't "specialized" in the sense that you can't replace existing technicians with new employees. It will always take time to develop skills, but it can be done.

The only motivation for a union to attempt to organize a shop of ours is to provide necessary funding for its own ongoing existence. They aren't soldiers for the side of the down trodden. They run a business, the same as Altice.

I am more comfortable attempting to embrace the ongoing changes with the belief that my skills will bring me success. And if not, I will move on to a job/career of my own choice and apply my talents there.